The sanctity of life

Euthanasia in English law:

• Euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under English law. Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment.
• Euthanasia is illegal Depending on the circumstances, euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
• Since April 2009, there have been 167 cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), three of which have been successfully prosecuted.

Active euthanasia: An individual or the medical professionals (or carers) do something deliberately that causes the person's death. Active euthanasia (medical intervention) falls firmly within the legal definition of murder and manslaughter. Passive euthanasia (medical non-intervention): takes place when nothing is done, directly resulting in the patient's death. For example, medical professionals may withdraw feeding tubes or turn off life support machines.

The Sanctity of Life principle

Sanctity of life: Life is sacred as it has intrinsic worth, human life has dignity and this should be preserved.

The Christian view: The origins of the sanctity of life finds its roots in the idea that human life is made in God's image, and human form was created distinctly different from all other parts of creation and is therefore sacred in value.

There is a misconception that this is strictly a religious viewpoint as atheists can also view life as sacred, this does not have to be God-given.

Strong sanctity of life arguments (against euthanasia)

• All innocent human life should be equally protected there are no exceptions, even if the person is suffering meaning euthanasia is wrong.

Biblical backing for the sanctity of life principle:

1. Life is set apart by God: every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. To be created in God's image implies that humans are set apart and different from all other creatures (Genesis 1:27). The idea of 'imago dei' suggests God breathed life into humans and gave them dominion over the world.
2. Life is a gift from God and is on loan to humans: if God is the author of life, then it follows that he is the one who determines when it should end, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." (Job 1:21).
3. Taking a life is broader than simply killing and the prohibition in the 10 commandments is 'do not kill' (Exodus 20:13). Humans were never permitted to offer a human sacrifice, even in the story of Abraham where God speak to Abraham and tell him to sacrifice his son, he is never allowed to go through with the action (Gen 22:2)
4. Life is always to be loved and protected: love requires the Christian to respect and protect all humans regardless of status, gender, and age. This is illustrated in the Parable of the Good Samaritan when a Samaritan overcomes prejudices to help a badly injured man. Just as Jesus' life and death is a sign of God's love for the world, so must each person sacrifice his or her own well-being for the lives of others.
5. Blasphemy: means to dishonour God by setting oneself up to be equal or greater than he is e.g. by carrying out euthanasia.

Natural law on Euthanasia

Telos: human flourishing comes from humans achieving God-like perfection, fulfilling our God-given purpose, as emphasized by Aquinas.

In the case of the sanctity of life, this would mean it is imperative for a human to value and respect the God-given life they have received.

The four tiers of law on Euthanasia

Eternal Law: the principles by which God made and controlled the universe and which are only fully known to God, often referred to as the mind of God. In the case of the sanctity of life, this would mean it is imperative for a human to value and respect the God-given life they have received, so this means humans have a responsibility to keep life sacred. Divine Law: The law of God revealed in the Bible, these laws clearly indicate that the sanctity of life should be upheld, through teaching like: 'imago dei' Genesis 1:27, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away" Job 1:21 and 'do not kill' Exodus 20:13. Natural Law: The moral law of God within human nature that is discoverable through the use of reason (ratio), this is because 'the requirements of the law are written on their hearts' Rm 2:15. In the case of the sanctity of life, the precept that is to be revered is the preservation of life, suggests that the sanctity of life should be upheld. Order in society means that in society we should uphold the value of life. Human Law: the laws of nations, this is the lowest form of law so even if national laws accept the ending of life, when making moral decisions the individual should uphold natural and divine law before these.

Strong sanctity of life applied to situation ethics Strong sanctity of life is a legalistic approach that does not allow the individual circumstances to be addressed, as such would be rejected by situation ethics Other support for the sanctity of life Dame Cicili Saunders who set up St Christopher's Hospice in 1967 'Anything which says to the ill that they are a burden to their family and that they are better off dead is unacceptable. What sort of society could let its old folk die because they are in the way?' Warnock & McDonald despite these incidents of God taking life these were not for age or health reasons 'the value of life is absolute'

Weak sanctity of life:

The belief is that although human life is always valuable, there may be situations where it would cause more harm than good to continue with it.

6. No one has a duty to endure a life of extreme pain: although Paul calls Christians to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), this does not mean enduring extraordinary pain or suffering.
7. Life is a gift, not a burden: if life is given to us as a gift, it is also given so that we may use it responsibly and dispose of it as we wish. Therefore, as humans are now owners of God's gift of life, it is up to them as good stewards of this life (Genesis 1:28) to decide when to end it.
8. As humans are created in the image of God the sanctity of their life comes from them upholding dignity (the worth and value of that life) for that life. That means that sometimes life should be ended if it lessens suffering and an undignified ending as if the case of Diane Pretty (see below).

Weak sanctity of life applied to natural law

Natural law ethicists will uphold the strong sanctity of life however, if people choose to reject this and support the weak sanctity of life they will consider this has taken place for the following reasons:

1. It is seen as an apparent good: The person believes they are doing a compassionate thing by upholding the weak sanctity of life. They have been mistaken by the perils of this world rather than striving for real goods.
2. The Law of Double Effect: The double effect argument involves making a distinction between foreseeing what will happen and actually intending it to happen e.g. giving a large dose of morphine to control the pain of a terminally ill patient foreseeing that it would shorten the patient's life.

Weak sanctity of life applied situation ethics

Joseph Fletcher believed that we should follow the rules until we need to break them for reasons of love. It is based on agape love (Christian unconditional love), and says that we should always do the most loving thing in any situation.

He used the six propositions to show what this love looked like and the 4 working principles to show how to put the love in action.

The six propositions

1. Love is the only thing that is intrinsically good: Actions are good or evil depending on whether they promote the most loving result. In the case of weak sanctity of life, because life is valued and has dignity within each situation love should be applied, weak sanctity of life allows for this.
2. Love is the ruling norm in ethical decision-making: 'The ruling norm of Christian decisions is love: nothing else'. In the case of weak sanctity of life because life is valued and has dignity within each situation the only consideration should be doing the most loving thing, weak sanctity of life allows for this.
3. Love and justice are the same thing: Fletcher stated that 'for justice is love distributed, nothing else.' If love was properly shared, there would be no injustice. In the case of weak sanctity of life because life is valued and has dignity within each situation the only consideration should be doing the most loving thing when this is done justice will be served.
4. Love wills the neighbour's good regardless of whether the neighbor is liked or not. You cannot be selective with love as if you are it's not agape. In the case of weak sanctity of life solely the situation that the individual finds them self in should be considered, as all life has equal value.
5. Love is the goal or end of the act and that justifies any means to achieve that goal: if actions are done with love as the motive they are correct, no matter what the action is. In the case of weak sanctity of life making decisions based on showing love, will naturally lead to individual decisions being made showing compassion in each case.
6. Love decides on each situation as it arises without a set of laws to guide it: In the case of weak sanctity of life, it allows for each case to be considered on its own merits without the limitation of legalist viewpoints as found in strong sanctity of life.

The four working principles

1. Pragmatism: It is based on experience rather than on theory, this is an ethics that is concerned with how moral views might play out in each real-life situation. In the case of weak sanctity of life, it allows for a personalised decision made on what action would show true respect for the dignity of life.
2. Relativism: it is based on making the absolute laws of Christian ethics relative as there should be no absolute and fixed view of the right thing to do. All ethical judgments are relative to agapeic love. In the case of weak sanctity of life, each case is considered on its own merits, leading to various outcomes depending on each case.
3. Positivism: it begins with belief in the reality and importance of love, an acceptance of agape through faith is the most important thing when making a moral decision. In the case of weak sanctity of life we have to make the right decision for the person involved showing love and believing in faith that it is the correct decision even if it appears to go against biblical principles.
4. Personalism: persons, not laws or anything else, are at the center of situation ethics human beings and their concerns are at the center of morality. In the case of weak sanctity of life, this approach allows us to decide, by putting the person at the center of any choice made.

Overall: situation ethics will uphold any individual decision made as this shows true respect and dignity for the life in question.

Arguments against the sanctity of life

Biblical arguments

There are times within the bible when the sanctity of life is not upheld:

1. Sodom and Gomorrah (God destroyed the city and all in it

2. God sent the angel of death to the Egyptians in Exodus

3. Gods command Abraham to sacrifice his son

• Peter Singer argued that it is "time to abandon the sanctity of life principle he believed it was outdated and irrational."
• Hobbes argues that humans are essentially no different from animals whose primary aim is to survive – ''Every man has a right to everything.''
• There is no intrinsic reason why the taking of life is wrong; for life is protected only insofar as it is in society's best interest to do so.
• If a person 'withdraws' from the social contract and takes his own life, then he 'does no harm' to society. He is exercising his right to take his own life.